• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact

Deliciously Seasoned

January 1, 2022

Easy Spanish Rice

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This easy Spanish rice recipe is a quick and easy side dish recipe that goes great with all your Mexican favorites as well as with chicken, beef, and pork.

A purple square shaped bowl filled with Spanish rice, sitting on a colorful striped placemat.

Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes are an enormous part of the culture down here in Texas. We enjoy our other traditional southern staples, but the flavors of Mexico have a special place in our hearts. Texans like me routinely make all kinds of delicious Mexican and Mexican-inspired dishes, and we always serve them with even more Mexican sides. One of the most popular sides to make here in Texas, and one of my all-time favorites, is Spanish rice. It’s absolutely delicious, and no Tex-Mex plate is complete without it.

Easy Spanish Rice

Spanish rice is a staple side dish for a reason. It’s delicious, but it’s also so versatile. It’s perfectly at home with any Mexican or Tex-Mex dish, but it’s also great as a base to simply add meat to and create a complete meal. The delicious flavors of garlic, sales, chili, and onions and the flavor and heat of jalapenos combine to create a zesty side dish that is absolutely overflowing with flavor. I make it all the time as a dinner side, and I frequently bring it to potlucks, as well.

A Delicious Side Dish

This is the perfect side dish. You can serve it alongside any protein source you like, even fish, and it’s always fantastic. Add beef, pork, or chicken to the rice, and you have a complete meal. Of course, you’ll also want it to pair with your tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and other Mexican favorites. Pair it as a side dish with avocados, sour cream, or cheese. It’s one of the best side dishes you’ll ever make because you can make it for almost any meal or occasion!

A close up photo of Spanish rice in a pan.

Variations

This recipe is as versatile as it is delicious. You can play with it to suit your exact needs, and you’ll always come out with something absolutely delicious. There are lots of ways to mix things up with this one, which is one reason I love to make it so much.

Different Rice

I love making this with long grain white rice, but you can try any rice you like for different textures and slightly different flavors. Brown rice works well with this recipe, as do shorter grain rice varieties. Just remember to thoroughly rinse your white rice varieties to cut down on the starch. Some of them have far more than regular white rice.

Make it Mild

If you don’t like a lot of heat, simply leave out the jalapenos./

An overhead shot showing a red pan full of rice, a black bowl and a purple bowl full of rice, parsley for garnish, all sitting on top of a colorful striped placemat.

Add Meat

To make this rice a complete meal, try adding meat to it. Some of my favorites are:

  • Shredded baked chicken
  • Shredded rotisserie chicken
  • Diced grilled chicken
  • Shredded beef
  • Ground beef
  • Shredded pork 
  • Leftover meat of any kind
  • Top with your favorite fish

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about this easy Spanish rice, then look no further. The following FAQ answers all the most common questions regarding Spanish rice.

Is there a difference between Mexican rice and Spanish rice?

They are slightly different. Spanish rice is a little heartier and firmer, while Mexican rice is softer and almost melts in your mouth. In addition, Spanish rice gets its color from saffron while in Mexican rice recipes, the rice gets its color from ground cumin. Although these dishes are different, most people tend to use the terms interchangeably.

A close up photo of Spanish rice stacked high in a bowl with diced tomatoes and jalapenos sitting in the rice.

What’s in Spanish rice?

Spanish rice commonly has onions, garlic, and tomatoes in it and is made with white rice.

Can you use an Instant Pot to make Spanish rice?

You absolutely can! Set the Instant Pot to sauté the ingredients as directed in the first part of the recipe, then add the remaining ingredients and set your Instant Pot to the rice setting.

What is the best rice for Spanish rice?

As long as you rinse it thoroughly, almost any rice will work. However, the rice that most chefs recommend is basmati rice.

A square purple bowl and a round black bowl filled with rice with a red pan of rice sitting in the background.

How to Store and Reheat Easy Spanish Rice

This rice will keep well in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 5 – 6 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the rice in an air-tight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

To reheat the rice, simply microwave it until it’s heated through.

Easy Spanish Rice Ingredients

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this dish, and you’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store.

  • Olive oil
  • Jalapenos, stem and seeds removed
  • Diced onions
  • Cloves garlic, minced
  • White rice, uncooked
  • Vegetable broth
  • Chunky salsa
  • Chili powder
A double photo pin of Spanish Rice in a purple bowl, and then a picture of rice on a spoon.

How to Make Easy Spanish Rice

Making this rice is a very straightforward affair. If you’ve never made it before, don’t worry. You’ll have no issues if you follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Sauté the Vegetables and Rice

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions and jalapenos and sauté until tender. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Next, add the rice and sprinkle it with chili powder. Cook the rice until it starts to brown, stirring frequently.

Step 2: Add the Wet Ingredients and Cook

Pour the vegetable broth and salsa into the pan and stir to combine. Reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer. Cook for 25 – 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and fluffy. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving and salt to taste. Enjoy!

Try This Delicious, Easy Spanish Rice Recipe Today

This easy Spanish rice is so simple to make and so full of flavor, there’s no reason you shouldn’t give it a try. It’s perfect with classic Mexican main courses, but it also makes a great main course itself if you add some protein to it. However you choose to serve it, one thing’s for certain: it’s always a hit. Give this one a try, and I know you’ll love it.

A three photo collage of Spanish rice in bowls, a spoonful showing all its ingredients, all sitting on a striped background.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

Homemade Guacamole – The best guacamole recipe, EVER! This recipe uses fresh ingredients, is super easy to make, and is loaded with so much flavor. It’ll become a must have side when you any kind of Mexican food.

Green Chili Corn Casserole – This casserole is made with corn, cheese, chilies, garlic, and eggs and is absolutely delicious with fresh corn tortillas for an added crunch.

7 Layer Dip – A perfect dish to make for any kind of occasion, layered with refried beans, salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and black olives. Yum!

This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole from Great Grub Delicious Treats is loaded with ground beef, beans, cheese, and crispy baked tater tots. Perfect for a side dish to your families favorite Mexican dish, or a main meal in itself.

Easy Spanish Rice Recipe

Easy Spanish Rice is the perfect side dish to serve alongside your favorite Mexican dish, it's made with sautéed onions, salsa, jalapenos, and long grain white rice.
Print Pin
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Homemade Side Dish, Homemade Spanish Rice, Spanish Rice
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Deliciously Seasoned

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 diced jalapenos, stem and seeds removed
  • ½ cup diced onions
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups white rice, uncooked
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1½ cups chunky salsa
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Using a large skillet or large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
  • Add diced onions and jalapenos. Saute until tender then add minced garlic and saute for an additional minute.
  • Next, add rice to the pan and sprinkle with chili powder. Cook until rice starts to brown, stirring frequently.
  • Pour vegetable broth and salsa into the pan and stir to combine.
  • Reduce heat, cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or until rice is tender and fluffy.

Here are a few pics that are the perfect size to pin to your favorite Pinterest board.

A colorful placemat with parsley laying around for decorations, with a red pan of rice and two bowls filled with rice.
A spoonful of rice sitting over a bowl full of rice, showing slices of diced tomatoes and jalapenos.

Share
Pin211
Tweet
Email
Print
211Shares
« Easy Key Lime Dessert
Enchilada Party Dip »

Primary Sidebar

Hi and welcome to Deliciously Seasoned! We are Halie and Nikki, the faces behind Deliciously Seasoned, along with our mom, Terri, owner of Great Grub, Delicious Treats. We have been working full time with our mom and wanted to start another food blog. We are so happy you have stopped by and hope you enjoy all of our recipes.

More about us →

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Join Deliciously Seasoned and get great recipes in your inbox!

Latest

  • Cheesy Onion Rings
  • Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp
  • Crescent Roll Breakfast with Bacon, Egg and Cheese
  • A title over a bowl of pasta with a bite being held up.
    Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers with Pasta

Popular

  • Cheesy Onion Rings
  • Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp
  • Crescent Roll Breakfast with Bacon, Egg and Cheese
  • Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers with Pasta

Hi and welcome to Deliciously Seasoned! We are Halie and Nikki, the faces behind Deliciously Seasoned, along with our mom, Terri, owner of Great Grub, Delicious Treats. We have been working full time with our mom and wanted to start another food blog. We are so happy you have stopped by and hope you enjoy all of our recipes.

More about us →

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Join Deliciously Seasoned and get great recipes in your inbox!

Latest

  • Cheesy Onion Rings
  • Air Fryer Cajun Shrimp
  • Crescent Roll Breakfast with Bacon, Egg and Cheese
  • A title over a bowl of pasta with a bite being held up.
    Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers with Pasta

Popular

  • Coconut Fried Shrimp
  • Beef Stroganoff
  • St Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookies
  • White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cranberries and Pecans

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Copyright

All content and images are copyright protected. Do not use any images without prior permission.

If you want to republish this recipe, make sure to re-write the recipe in your own words and only list ingredients making sure to link back to this post for the original recipe and directions.  

Copyright © 2020 Deliciously Seasoned All Rights Reserved

211Shares